Solid Foods For 4 - 6 Months Old Baby

   

There is always a known fact that solids should be introduced only after 6 Months and also until then Only Mother's Milk should be fed for the baby. But we have to consider another fact also. 'Babies that are introduced to solids earlier are better eaters.' Whether to introduce solids (supplements) at this stage or not purely depends upon the Babies Growth and for sure the Pediatrician will be the best person to tell this. However for Mom's who have decided to start giving supplements at this stage, it is always confusion what to give and how to give. Here are the few suggestions for the moms who have doubts.

What to Give

•  Avocados/Butter Fruit
• Apples
• Bananas
• Sweet potato
• Carrot
• Green Peas
• Rice 
• Oats
• Ragi 

      

Even after seeing the list some may have doubt on what to start with. Here is the detailed description of everything. Based on the nutritional value decide the order.

Avocado/Butter Fruit

    Avocados are the nature's best gift which is rich in 'good fats' which is primarily needed for baby’s brain growth and also for physical development. It also has a high Nutritional Value.

   How to Give

       Avocado does not need to be cooked. If the avocado is yet to ripe you can place it in a paper bag and place it in the table. Check it for every 12 hours. Once it is ripen you can cut it into two like mango and remove the hard seed in the centre. Then you can simply peel off the skin and feed it since the fully ripe avocado itself is like a purée. Don't worry if you have cut the fruit in prior, you can simply blend it and make it as a purée and feed your baby happily.

   Why to Give

       Avocado is the perfect first food for the babies because it is tasteless. While introducing supplements to the babies in earlier stage you must be very careful. If they are introduced with sweetened and salted food they may get a aversion with Mother's Milk. Also it develops the central nervous system and brain.

Apples

     As soon as we think of giving fruits to our babies first fruit comes to our mind is Apple. Apple is rich in fiber, both insoluble and soluble. So it helps in the bowel movement of the babies and prevents constipation.

 How to Give

      Raw Apples are difficult for babies to digest. Cut the apple into pieces and then either steam it or boil it (in sparse amount of water). Boiling apples with excess water and then draining the excess water may cause loss of nutrients. Make the puree out of the boiled apple and feed your baby happily.

 Why to Give

      It is as simple as that.  'To Keep the Doctor Away'.

Bananas

    Yes!!!! Yet another favorite fruit for both the mom and the kid. Apart from the fact that they are rich in fiber they are also rich in Potassium it serves as a perfect first food for the baby.

 How to Give

     Bananas do not need to be cooked. A ripen banana can be fed directly. Make sure that it is not given in excess amount, which may cause constipation. And if the baby gets constipation even if given in fewer amounts, try giving some amount of water after giving banana.

  Why to Give

        Bananas are high in potassium that is good for the heart and also helps in maintaining blood pressure level

 
Sweet Potato/Carrot/Peas
     It is the known fact that these vegetables are rich in vitamins. All these vegetables have to be boiled and made as a puree and then it can be fed to the baby happily.

Rice

    Boiled rice is too early in this stage. Hence rice can be powdered and with that porridge can be prepared which can be fed to the baby directly.

Oats

    Similar to the rice the oats can also be powered and made used to make porridge. There is a common myth that oats is meant for weight loss and if given for babies it may reduce their weight. Not at all!! Oats is too good for babies, that when given regularly may reduce the possibility of getting blood pressure in future. So enjoy giving your baby Oats Porridge.

Ragi 

    It is one of the best foods in the world. Have any one thought why athletes from countries like kenya are always on the top in athletics. The most common food in those countries is Ragi/Pearl Millet (Kambu) that gives stamina which is mainly needed for athletics

Why to Give.

     As soon as we decide to start to start with solids the first suggestion from our family will be Rice porridge. But I personally suggest you to start with ragi porridge since i have started with that. No other food contains so much calcium in it like that of Ragi.

How to Give

     Ragi can be powdered and made a porridge out of that and can be given to baby. Ragi also contains high fiber that may be difficult for the baby to digest. If any symptoms of indigestion is seen in baby just don't worry. There is another way to give Ragi without causing digestion problem.

      Soak few tea spoons of ragi in water for full night (around for 10-12 hrs). Drain the water from the Ragi and grind it using mixxie by adding small amount of amount. Now extract the milk (like we do for extracting coconut milk) alone from that and repeat the procedure if needed. Now add some water to the milk and boil it in simmer. Boil until it reaches a texture of Ice-Apple (Nungu). Feed it happily to the baby and help them grow with strong bones.

Hope you would have found this blog useful. Soon I will post Few Tips to Start Solids that all moms need to know.